The Coolican Report

The entrenchment of aboriginal and treaty rights in the 1982
"Constitution Act" required the federal government to
reconsider its position regarding rights, self-government, and
the negotiation of comprehensive land claims. Clearly the process
required revamping. A task force released its report,
"Living Treaties; Lasting Agreements" or more commonly
know as the Coolican Report, in 1986. Its recommendations include
four main principles: recognizing and affirming aboriginal
rights, negotiation of aboriginal self-government; sharing of
responsibility for management of land and resources between
aboriginal peoples and government; and recognition that the
interests of third parties (business and general public) be
treated fairly. Despite these recommendations, negotiations of
comprehensive land claims have proceeded at a slow pace,
especially in British Columbia, the province with the most
claims. (The Nisga'a began in 1976 and continue to this day.)

Throughout this entire period of court cases, constitutional
debate, task forces, and negotiations, the British Columbia
government remained steadfast in its refusal to recognize
aboriginal rights or to become involved in the land claim
negotiation process.